Plants and seeds of common wheat cultivar WB-249

ABSTRACT

A wheat cultivar, designated WB-249, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds, plants, and hybrids of wheat cultivar WB-249, and to methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing plants from wheat cultivar WB-249 with themselves or with plants from another wheat variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a wheat plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic wheat plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to wheat varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from wheat cultivar WB-249, to methods for producing other wheat varieties, lines or plant parts derived from wheat cultivar WB-249, and to the wheat plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing wheat cultivar WB-249 with another wheat cultivar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a new and distinctive wheat line, designated WB-249, representative sample of seed of which was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11952, as well as to seed, plants, cultivars and hybrids related thereto. The invention also relates to methods for producing wheat seed and plants from WB-249.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a seed, wheat plant or part thereof, or tissue culture of wheat cultivar WB-249. The invention is also directed, in an embodiment, to a method for producing a wheat seed comprising crossing two wheat plants and harvesting the resultant wheat seed, wherein at least one of the two wheat plants is from the WB-249 line. The invention is also directed, in various embodiments, to methods of producing plants and plants that are herbicide tolerant, pest or insect resistant, disease resistant, or have modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolisms.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of introducing a desired trait into wheat cultivar WB-249, wherein the method comprises:

-   -   (a) crossing a WB-249 plant with a plant of another wheat         cultivar that comprises a desired trait to produce progeny         plants wherein the desired trait is selected from the group         consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, herbicide         resistance, insect resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,         modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism,         modified phytic acid metabolism, modified waxy starch content,         modified protein content, increased tolerance to water stress         and resistance to bacterial disease, fungal disease or viral         disease;     -   (b) selecting one or more progeny plants that have the desired         trait to produce selected progeny plants;     -   (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with the WB-249 plant         to produce backcross progeny plants;     -   (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired         trait and essentially all of the physiological and morphological         characteristics of wheat cultivar WB-249 listed in Table 1; and     -   (e) repeating the crossing the selected progeny step and         selecting for backcross progeny step two or more times in         succession to produce selected third or higher backcross progeny         plants that comprise essentially all of the desired trait and         all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of         wheat cultivar WB-249 listed in Table 1.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to the terms used herein:

Allele. Allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene, all of which relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Awn. Awn is intended to mean the elongated needle-like appendages on the flower- and seed-bearing head at the top of the cereal grain plant (e.g., wheat, common wheat, rye). Awns are attached to the lemmas. Lemmas enclose the stamen and the stigma as part of the florets. Florets are grouped in spikelets, which in turn together comprise the head.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents. For example, a first generation hybrid F₁ may be crossed with one of the parental genotypes of the F₁ hybrid.

Cell. As used herein, the term cell includes a plant cell, whether isolated, in tissue culture, or incorporated in a plant or plant part.

Disease Resistance. As used herein, the term disease resistance or disease resistant is defined as the ability of plants to restrict the activities of a specified disease, such as a fungus, virus, or bacterium.

Disease Tolerance. As used herein, the term disease tolerance or disease tolerant is defined as the ability of plants to endure a specified disease (such as a fungus, virus or bacterium) or an adverse environmental condition and still perform and produce in spite of this disorder.

Embryo. The embryo is the small plant contained within a mature seed.

Essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics. This phrase refers to a plant having essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the referenced plant or variety, as determined at a 5% significance level for quantitative data.

Gene. As used herein, gene refers to a segment of nucleic acid. A gene can be introduced into a genome of a species, whether from a different species or from the same species, using transformation or various breeding methods.

Gene Converted (Conversion). Gene conversion or a gene converted plant refers to plants that are developed by backcrossing, genetic engineering, or mutation, wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered, in addition to the one or more traits transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique, genetic engineering, or mutation.

Gene Silencing. Gene silencing means the interruption or suppression of the expression of a gene at the level of transcription or translation.

Genotype. Genotype refers to the genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Head. As used herein, the term head refers to a group of spikelets at the top of one plant stem. The term spike also refers to the head of a plant located at the top of one plant stem.

Glume Blotch. Glume Blotch is a disease of wheat characterized by small, irregular gray to brown spots or blotches on the glumes, although infections may also occur at the nodes. The disease is caused by the fungus Stagonosporum nodorum (may also be referred to as Septoria nodorum). Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaves of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Herbicide Resistance. As used herein, the term herbicide resistance or herbicide resistant is defined as the ability of plants to survive and reproduce following exposure to a dose of herbicide that would normally be lethal to the plant.

Herbicide Tolerance. As used herein, the term herbicide tolerance or herbicide tolerant is defined as the ability of plants to survive and reproduce after herbicide treatment.

Insect Resistance. As used herein, the term disease resistance or disease resistant is defined as the ability of plants to restrict the activities of a specified insect or pest.

Insect Tolerance. As used herein, the term disease tolerance or disease tolerant is defined as the ability of plants to endure a specified insect or pest and still perform and produce in spite of this disorder.

Kernel Weight. As used herein, the term kernel weight refers to the weight of individual kernels (also called seeds), often reported as the weight of one thousand kernels or “1000 Kernel Weight”.

Leaf Rust. Leaf Rust is a disease of wheat characterized by pustules that are circular or slightly elliptical, that usually do not coalesce, and contain masses of orange to orange-brown spores. The disease is caused by the fungus Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici. Infection sites primarily are found on the upper surfaces of leaves and leaf sheaths, and occasionally on the neck and awns. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaves of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Linkage. Linkage refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregate together more often than expected if their transmission was independent.

Locus. A locus is a position on a genomic sequence that is usually found by a point of reference, for example, the position of a DNA sequence that is a gene, or part of a gene or intergenic region. A locus confers one or more traits such as, for example, male sterility, herbicide tolerance or resistance, insect resistance or tolerance, disease resistance or tolerance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified phytic acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism or modified protein metabolism. The trait may be, for example, conferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of the variety by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetic transformation techniques. A locus may comprise one or more alleles integrated at a single chromosomal location.

Maturity. As used herein, the term maturity refers to the stage of plant growth at which the development of the kernels is complete.

Pedigree Distance. Pedigree distance is the relationship among generations based on their ancestral links as evidenced in pedigrees. It may be measured by the distance of the pedigree from a given starting point in the ancestry.

Percent Identity. Percent identity, as used herein, refers to the comparison of the homozygous alleles of two wheat varieties. Percent identity is determined by comparing a statistically significant number of the homozygous alleles of two developed varieties. For example, a percent identity of 90% between wheat variety 1 and wheat variety 2 means that the two varieties have the same allele at 90% of their loci.

Percent Similarity. Percent similarity as used herein refers to the comparison of the homozygous alleles of a wheat variety such as WB-249 with another plant, and if the homozygous allele of WB-249 matches at least one of the alleles from the other plant then they are scored as similar. Percent similarity is determined by comparing a statistically significant number of loci and recording the number of loci with similar alleles as a percentage. A percent similarity of 90% between WB-249 and another plant means that WB-249 matches at least one of the alleles of the other plant at 90% of the loci.

Plant. As used herein, the term plant includes reference to an immature or mature whole plant, including a plant from which seed, grain, or anthers have been removed. A seed or embryo that will produce the plant is also considered to be a plant.

Plant Height (Hgt). As used herein, the term plant height is defined as the average height in inches or centimeters of a group of plants, as measured from the ground level to the tip of the head, excluding awns.

Plant Parts. As used herein, the term plant parts (or reference to “a wheat plant, or a part thereof”) includes but is not limited to protoplasts, callus, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, seed, grain, pericarp, embryo, pollen, ovules, cotyledon, hypocotyl, spike, floret, awn, lemma, shoot, tissue, petiole, cells, and meristematic cells.

Powdery Mildew. Powdery Mildew is a disease of wheat characterized by white to pale gray, fuzzy or powdery colonies of mycelia, and conidia on the upper surfaces of leaves and leaf sheaths (especially on lower leaves), and sometimes on the spikes. The disease is caused by the fungus Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici. Older fungal tissue is yellowish gray. This superficial fungal material can be rubbed off easily with the fingers. Host tissue beneath the fungal material becomes chlorotic or necrotic and, with severe infections, the leaves may die. Eventually, black spherical fruiting structures may develop in the mycelia, and can be seen without magnification. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaves of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Progeny. As used herein, progeny includes an F₁ wheat plant produced from the cross of two wheat plants where at least one plant includes wheat cultivar WB-249. Progeny further includes but is not limited to subsequent F₂, F₃, F₄, F₅, F₆, F₇, F₈, F₉ and F₁₀ generational crosses with the recurrent parental line.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Quantitative trait loci refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.

Rhizoctonia Root Rot. Rhizoctonia Root Rot is a disease of wheat characterized by sharp eyespot lesions that develop on basal leaf sheaths. The disease is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The lesion margins are dark brown with pale, straw-colored centers and the mycelia often present in the centers of lesions are easily removed by rubbing. Roots can also be affected, usually becoming brown in color and reduced in number. The disease can cause stunting and a reduction in the number of tillers. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaf sheaths of the plant and on reduced vigor of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Scab or Head Blight. Scab or Head Blight a disease of wheat characterized by florets (especially the outer glumes) that become slightly darkened and oily in appearance. The disease is caused by the fungus Fusarium which has numerous species. Spores are produced that can give the spike and shriveled, infected kernels a bright pinkish color. Spores can produce a toxin, deoxynivalenol which can be measured with a chemical test. Resistance to this disease can be measured in three ways: the extent of the disease on the spikes of the plant, the percent kernels which are visibly shriveled and the amount of deoxynivalenol in the kernels. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

SDS Sedimentation. SDS sedimentation (sodium dodecyl sedimentation) test values are a measure of the end-use mixing and handling properties of bread dough and their relation to bread-making quality as a result of the dough's gluten quality. Higher SDS sedimentation levels reflect higher gluten quality.

Septoria Leaf Blotch or Speckled Leaf Blotch. Speckled leaf blotch is a disease of wheat, common wheat and durum wheat characterized by irregularly shaped blotches that are at first yellow and then turn reddish brown with grayish brown dry centers, caused by the rust fungus Septoria tritici. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaves of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Soil Born Mosaic Virus. Soil born mosaic virus is a disease of wheat characterized by mild green to yellow mosaic, yellow-green mottling, dashes, and parallel streaks, most clearly visible on the youngest leaf. Reddish streaking and necrosis at leaf tips sometimes occurs. Stunting can be moderate to severe, depending on the variety. The disease is caused by a virus which is transmitted by a soilborne fungus-like organism, Polymyxa graminis, which makes swimming spores that infect the roots of wheat. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the young plants. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Stem Rust. Stem Rust is a disease of wheat characterized by pustules containing masses of spores that are dark reddish brown, and may occur on both sides of the leaves, on the stems, and on the spikes. The disease is caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. Tritici. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaves of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Stripe Rust. Stripe rust is a disease of wheat, common wheat, durum wheat, and barley characterized by elongated rows of yellow spores on the affected parts, caused by a rust fungus, Puccinia striiformis. Resistance to this disease is scored on scales that reflect the observed extent of the disease on the leaves of the plant. Rating scales may differ but in general a low number indicates resistance and higher number suggests different levels of susceptibility.

Test Weight (TWT). As used herein, the term test weight is a measure of density that refers to the weight in pounds of the amount of kernels contained in a bushel unit of volume.

Tissue Culture. As used herein, the term tissue culture indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, pericarp, flowers, florets, heads, spikelets, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, awns, stems, and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention.

Six main wheat market classes exist, five of which belong to the species Triticum aestivum L.: common wheat, hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, and white. The sixth class of wheat is durum (Triticum turgidum L.). Common wheats are used in a variety of food products such as bread, cookies, cakes, crackers, and noodles. In general, the hard wheat classes are milled into flour used for breads and the soft wheat classes are milled into flour used for pastries and crackers. Wheat starch is used in the food and paper industries, as laundry starches, and in other products. Products produced from wheat may include grain, flour, baked goods, cereals, pasta, beverages, livestock feed, biofuel, straw, construction materials, and starches.

In an embodiment, the invention is directed to wheat cultivar WB-249, its seeds, plants, and hybrids. Wheat cultivar WB-249 is a soft red, winter type common wheat bred for fall and winter planting in the soft red winter wheat growing regions of the United States. The primary usage of wheat cultivar WB-249 will be for production of grain, but it can also be used for production of silage harvested in the soft dough stage.

A. Origin and Breeding History

Wheat cultivar WB-249 is a common wheat variety developed from a F1 selection made from the initial cross of “U89-6A//ZX90-2C1/U88-9C”. “U89-6A”, “ZX90-2C1” and “U88-9C” are proprietary common wheat varieties of Monsanto Technology LLC. The F1 selection was self pollinated and the modified bulk system of breeding was then used to develop and select WB-249 which is a F6 level selection. Some of the criteria used for selection in various generations include yield, test weight, milling score, straw strength, maturity, disease resistance, and plant height.

Wheat cultivar WB-249 has shown uniformity and stability in appearance and performance across several generations (F7-F15) and across environments where it has been tested. The variety has been increased with continuous observation for uniformity of plant type as described in the following variety description information.

B. Phenotypic Description

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheat plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of WB-249 as presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of WB-249 VALUES/RATINGS CHARACTERISTIC WB-249 Branson 1. PLANT Coleoptile anthocyanin Present Absent Juvenile plant growth Prostrate Semi-Erect Plant color at boot stage Green Green Flag leaf at boot stage Erect, twisted Erect, twisted waxy bloom waxy bloom present present Days to Heading (Julian Date) 137 132 Anther color Yellow Yellow Plant height (cm) 100  92 2. STEM Anthocyanin Absent Present Waxy bloom Present Present Internode: Form Hollow Hollow Number  5  5 Hairiness of last internode of Absent Present rachis Peduncle: Form Erect Recurved Length (cm)   16.0   14.0 Auricle: Anthocyanin Absent Present Hair Absent Present 3. HEAD (at maturity) Density Middense Middense Shape Strap Strap Curvature Erect Erect Awnedness Awned Awnletted 4. GLUMES (at maturity) Color White White Shoulder Apiculate Oblique Shoulder width Narrow Narrow Beak Acuminate Obtuse and and narrow medium Glume length Long Long Glume width Medium Narrow Pubescence Absent Absent 5. SEED Shape Ovate Ovate Cheek Rounded Rounded Brush Short Medium Brush collar Not collared Not collared Crease width Narrow, less Narrow, less than 60% of than 60% of kernel kernel Crease depth Shallow, less Shallow, less than 20% of than 20% of kernel kernel Color Red Red Texture Soft Soft Seed weight (g/1000 kernels)  35  37 Germ size Midsize Midsize Phenol reaction Dark Brown Not tested 6. DISEASE REACTIONS Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici Intermediate Intermediate (Leaf rust): Puccinia striiformis (Stripe rust): Intermediate Tolerant Septoria tritici Susceptible Tolerant (Speckled leaf blotch): Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici Intermediate Tolerant (Powdery mildew): Fusarium spp (Scab): Susceptible Intermediate Soil borne mosaic virus (SBMV): Intermediate Intermediate

In an embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising a seed of WB-249 comprised in plant seed growth media. Advantageously, plant seed growth media can provide adequate physical support for seeds and can retain moisture and/or nutritional components. In certain embodiments, the plant seed growth media is a soil or synthetic cultivation medium. Any plant seed growth media known in the art may be utilized in this embodiment and the invention is not limited to soil or synthetic cultivation medium. Synthetic plant cultivation media are well known in the art and may, in certain embodiments, comprise polymers or hydrogels. In specific embodiments, the growth medium may be comprised in a container or may, for example, be soil in a field.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods for producing a wheat plant by crossing a first parent wheat plant with a second parent wheat plant, wherein the first or second wheat plant is the wheat plant from the cultivar WB-249. In an embodiment, the first and second parent wheat plants may be from the cultivar WB-249 (self-pollination). Any methods using the cultivar WB-249 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid breeding, and crosses to populations. Any plants produced using cultivar WB-249 as a parent are within the scope of this invention. In certain embodiments, the invention is also directed to cells which, upon growth and differentiation, produce a cultivar having essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of WB-249. The present invention additionally contemplates, in various embodiments, a wheat plant regenerated from a tissue culture of cultivar WB-249.

In some embodiments of the invention, the invention is directed to a transgenic variant of WB-249. A transgenic variant of WB-249 may contain at least one transgene but could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more transgenes. In another embodiment, a transgenic variant of WB-249 may contain no more than 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 transgenes. Another embodiment of the invention involves a process for producing wheat variety WB-249 further comprising a desired trait, said process comprising introducing a transgene that confers a desired trait to a wheat plant of variety WB-249. Methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed and are well known in the art. As part of the invention, one of ordinary skill in the art may utilize any method of producing transgenic plants which is currently known or yet to be developed.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available.

In certain embodiments, the desired trait may be one or more of herbicide tolerance or resistance, insect resistance or tolerance, disease resistance or tolerance, resistance for bacterial, viral, or fungal disease, male fertility, male sterility, decreased phytate, or modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism. The specific transgene may be any known in the art or listed herein, including, but not limited to a polynucleotide conferring resistance to imidazolinone, dicamba, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, triazine, benzonitrile, cyclohexanedione, phenoxy proprionic acid and L-phosphinothricin; a polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding phytase, FAD-2, FAD-3, galactinol synthase or a raffinose synthetic enzyme, Fusarium, Septoria, or various viruses or bacteria.

Various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome using transformation. These elements include, but are not limited to genes, coding sequences, inducible, constitutive, and tissue specific promoters, enhancing sequences, and signal and targeting sequences.

In some embodiments, the invention comprises a WB-249 plant which has been developed using both genetic engineering and traditional breeding techniques. For example, a genetic trait may have been engineered into the genome of a particular wheat plant may then be moved into the genome of a WB-249 plant using traditional breeding techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. Likewise, a genetic trait may have been engineered into the genome of a WB-249 wheat plant may then be moved into the genome of another variety using traditional breeding techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. A backcrossing approach is commonly used to move a transgene from a transformed wheat variety into an already developed wheat variety, and the resulting backcross conversion plant would then comprise the transgene(s).

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vector that will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNA comprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain one or more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. The vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or in combination with other plasmids, to provide transformed wheat plants, using transformation methods as described below to incorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the wheat plant(s).

Expression Vectors for Wheat Transformation: Marker Genes

Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker operably linked to a regulatory element that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in the transformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. Positive selection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII), which when under the control of plant regulatory signals, confers resistance to kanamycin. Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene, which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin.

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Other selectable marker genes confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or bromoxynil.

Other selectable marker genes for plant transformation that are not of bacterial origin include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plant acetolactate synthase.

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requires screening of presumptively transformed plant cells, rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells, for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS), β-galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not require destruction of plant tissue are also available.

More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. GFP and mutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.

Expression Vectors for Wheat Transformation: Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”. Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may affect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters—An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. With an inducible promoter, the rate of transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the present invention. Exemplary inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, those from the ACEI system, which respond to copper; In2 gene from maize, which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners. In an embodiment, the inducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is the inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone.

B. Constitutive Promoters—A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat or is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the present invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV and the promoters from such genes as rice actin; ubiquitin; pEMU; MAS and maize H3 histone.

The ALS promoter, Xba1/NcoI fragment 5′ to the Brassica napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to said Xba1/NcoI fragment), represents a particularly useful constitutive promoter.

C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-preferred Promoters—A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. Plants transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter may produce the protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in the present invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene; a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter, such as that from cab or rubisco; an anther-specific promoter, such as that from LAT52; a pollen-specific promoter, such as that from Zm13; or a microspore-preferred promoter, such as that from apg.

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondrion or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art.

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

Using transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventional manner. A foreign protein can then be extracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is, or is derived from a WB-249 wheat plant. In another embodiment, the biomass of interest is or is derived from a WB-249 seed. For the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule. Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques.

In certain embodiments, the invention comprises transformed WB-249 plants that express particular agronomic genes or phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

1. Genes that Confer Tolerance or Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

A. Plant disease tolerance or resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease tolerance or resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with one or more cloned resistance genes to engineer plants that are resistant to specific pathogen strains.

B. A gene conferring resistance to a pest, such as nematodes.

C. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding δ-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

D. A lectin. The nucleotide sequence of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes are known in the art.

E. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin or avidin homologues.

F. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. For example, the nucleotide sequences of rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I, Streptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase inhibitor are known in the art.

G. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. For example, the baculovirus expression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone, is known in the art.

H. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example, it is known that expression cloning yields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor and an allostatin can be identified in Diploptera puntata. Genes encoding insect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins are also known in the art.

I. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc. For example, heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide is known in the art.

J. An enzyme responsible for a hyper-accumulation of a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, a hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

K. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule. For example, such enzymes include, but are not limited to, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a callase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. DNA molecules which contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, from the ATCC under Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. The nucleotide sequences of a cDNA encoding tobacco hookworm chitinase and parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene are known.

L. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, the nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones and a maize calmodulin cDNA clone are known.

M. A hydrophobic moment peptide. For example, peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin, which inhibit fungal plant pathogens, or synthetic antimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance.

N. A membrane permease, a channel former, or a channel blocker. For example, heterologous expression of a cecropin-β lytic peptide analog to render transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum is known.

O. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease development affected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruses. Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, tobacco rattle virus, and tobacco mosaic virus.

P. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect. For example, enzymatic inactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chain antibody fragments is known.

Q. A virus-specific antibody. For example, it is known that transgenic plants expressing recombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. The cloning and characterization of a gene that encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is known.

S. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. For example, it has been shown that transgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating gene have an increased resistance to fungal disease.

T. Genes expressing proteins with antifungal action. Fusarium head blight along with deoxynivalenol both produced by the pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe) have caused devastating losses in wheat production. Genes expressing proteins with antifungal action can be used as transgenes to prevent Fusarium head blight. Various classes of proteins have been identified. Examples include endochitinases, exochitinases, glucanases, thionins, thaumatin-like proteins, osmotins, ribosome-inactivating proteins, flavonoids and lactoferricin. During infection with Fusarium graminearum, deoxynivalenol is produced. There is evidence that production of deoxynivalenol increases the virulence of the disease. Genes with properties for detoxification of deoxynivalenol have been engineered for use in wheat. A synthetic peptide that competes with deoxynivalenol has been identified. Changing the ribosomes of the host so that they have reduced affinity for deoxynivalenol has also been used to reduce the virulence of Fusarium graminearum. Genes used to help reduce Fusarium head blight include but are not limited to Tri101 (Fusarium), PDR5 (yeast), tlp-1 (oat), tlp-2 (oat), leaf tlp-1 (wheat), tip (rice), tlp-4 (oat), endochitinase, exochitinase, glucanase (Fusarium), permatin (oat), seed hordothionin (barley), alpha-thionin (wheat), acid glucanase (alfalfa), chitinase (barley and rice), class beta II-1,3-glucanase (barley), PR5/tlp (Arabidopsis), zeamatin (maize), type 1 RIP (barley), NPR1 (Arabidopsis), lactoferrin (mammal), oxalyl-CoA-decarboxylase (bacterium), IAP (baculovirus), ced-9 (C. elegans), and glucanase (rice and barley).

U. A gene, for example, the H9, H10 and H21 genes, conferring resistance to a pest, such as Hessian fly, stem soft fly, cereal leaf beetle, and/or green bug.

V. A gene conferring resistance to diseases such as wheat rusts, Septoria tritici, Septoria nodorum, powdery mildew, Helminthosporium diseases, smuts, bunts, Fusarium diseases, bacterial diseases, and viral diseases.

W. Genes involved in the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) response and/or the pathogenesis-related genes.

X. Antifungal genes.

Y. Detoxification genes, such as for fumonisin, beauvericin, moniliformin and zearalenone and their structurally related derivatives.

Z. Cystatin and cysteine proteinase inhibitors.

AA. Defensin genes.

BB. Genes conferring resistance to nematodes.

2. Genes that Confer Tolerance or Resistance to an Herbicide:

A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme.

B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and aroA genes, respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces hygroscopicus PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acids and cyclohexones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). For example, the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSP which can confer glyphosate resistance is known. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCC accession number 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is known. Nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin are also known. The nucleotide sequence of a PAT gene is known, as is the production of transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for PAT activity. Exemplary genes conferring resistance to phenoxy proprionic acids and cyclohexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and Acc1-S3 genes.

C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) or a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed and DNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described in the art.

D. Acetohydroxy acid synthase. This enzyme has been found to make plants that express this enzyme tolerant or resistant to multiple types of herbicides and has been introduced into a variety of plants. Other genes that confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides include a gene encoding a chimeric protein of rat cytochrome P4507A1 and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, genes for glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, and genes for various phosphotransferases.

E. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox). Protox is necessary for the production of chlorophyll, which is necessary for all plant survival. The protox enzyme serves as the target for a variety of herbicidal compounds. These herbicides also inhibit growth of different species of plants present, causing their total destruction. The development of plants containing altered protox activity that are tolerant or resistant to these herbicides is described in the art.

3. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

A. Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforming a plant with an antisense gene of stearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant.

B. Decreased phytate content. This can be accomplished by: 1) Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene enhances breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformed plant; or 2) Up-regulation of a gene that reduces phytate content. For example, the nucleotide sequence of an Aspergillus niger phytase gene has been described

C. Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, by transforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters the branching pattern of starch, or, a gene altering thioredoxin such as NTR and/or TRX and/or a gamma zein knock out or mutant such as cs27 or TUSC27 or en27. For example, the nucleotide sequences of Streptococcus mutans fructosyltransferase gene, Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene, tomato invertase genes are known. Transgenic plants can be produced that express Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase, that site-direct mutagenesis of barley alpha-amylase gene, or confer maize endosperm starch branching enzyme II or improved digestibility and/or starch extraction through modification of UDP-D-xylose 4-epimerase. Methods of producing high oil seed by modification of starch levels (AGP) are also known. The fatty acid modification genes mentioned above may also be used to affect starch content and/or composition through the interrelationship of the starch and oil pathways.

D. Elevated oleic acid via FAD-2 gene modification and/or decreased linolenic acid via FAD-3 gene modification.

E. Altering conjugated linolenic or linoleic acid content, or LEC1, AGP, Dek1, Superal1, mi1ps, various Ipa genes such as Ipa1, Ipa3, hpt or hggt.

F. Altered antioxidant content or composition, such as alteration of tocopherol or tocotrienols. For example, manipulation of antioxidant levels through alteration of a phytl prenyl transferase (ppt) is known, as is manipulation of antioxidant levels through alteration of a homogentisate geranyl geranyl transferase (hggt).

G. The content of high-molecular weight gluten subunits (HMS-GS). Genomic clones have been isolated for different subunits. For example, genomic clones have transformed wheat with genes that encode a modified HMW-GS.

H. Increased protein metabolism, zinc and iron content, for example, by regulating the NAC gene, increasing protein metabolism by regulating the Gpc-B1 gene, or regulating glutenin and gliadin genes.

I. Altered essential seed amino acids. Methods of increasing accumulation of essential amino acids in seeds are known, binary methods of increasing accumulation of essential amino acids in seeds are known, alteration of amino acid compositions in seeds are known, methods for altering amino acid content of proteins are known, alteration of amino acid compositions in seeds are known, and proteins with enhanced levels of essential amino acids are known. Other examples may include high methionine, high threonine, plant amino acid biosynthetic enzymes, increased lysine and threonine, plant tryptophan synthase beta subunit, methionine metabolic enzymes, high sulfur, increased methionine, plant amino acid biosynthetic enzymes, engineered seed protein having higher percentage of essential amino acids, increased lysine, increasing sulfur amino acid content, synthetic storage proteins with defined structure containing programmable levels of essential amino acids for improvement of the nutritional value of plants, increased threonine, increased lysine, Ces A: cellulose synthase, hemicellulose, UDPGdH, and RGP.

4. Genes that Control Male Sterility

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterility available, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations within the genome that confer male sterility. In addition to these methods, a system of nuclear male sterility that includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility; silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removing the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not “on”, resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed, is known. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning “on”, the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed.

A. Introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of a tapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemical N-Ac-PPT.

B. Introduction of various stamen-specific promoters.

C. Introduction of the barnase and the barstar genes.

5. Genes that Create a Site for Site Specific DNA Integration.

This includes the introduction of FRT sites that may be used in the FLP/FRT system and/or Lox sites that may be used in the Cre/Loxp system. Other systems that may be used include the Gin recombinase of phage Mu, the Pin recombinase of E. coli, and the R/RS system of the pSR1 plasmid.

6. Genes that Affect Abiotic Stress Resistance.

A. Genes that affect abiotic stress resistance (including but not limited to flowering, seed development, enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiency, altered nitrogen responsiveness, drought resistance or tolerance, cold resistance or tolerance, and salt resistance or tolerance) and increased yield under stress. For example, water use efficiency can be altered through alteration of malate. In addition, various genes, including CBF genes and transcription factors can be effective in mitigating the negative effects of freezing, high salinity, and drought on plants, as well as conferring other positive effects on plant phenotype. Abscisic acid can be altered in plants, resulting in improved plant phenotype, such as increased yield and/or increased tolerance to abiotic stress. Cytokinin expression can be modified resulting in plants with increased stress tolerance, such as drought tolerance, and/or increased yield. Nitrogen utilization can be enhanced and/or nitrogen responsiveness can be altered. Ethylene can be altered. Plant transcription factors or transcriptional regulators of abiotic stress can also be altered.

B. Improved tolerance to water stress from drought or high salt water condition. The HVA1 protein belongs to the group 3 LEA proteins that include other members such as wheat pMA2005, cotton D-7, carrot Dc3, and rape pLEA76. These proteins are characterized by 11-mer tandem repeats of amino acid domains which may form a probable amphophilic alpha-helical structure that presents a hydrophilic surface with a hydrophobic stripe. The barley HVA1 gene and the wheat pMA2005 gene are highly similar at both the nucleotide level and predicted amino acid level. These two monocot genes are closely related to the cotton D-7 gene and carrot Dc3 gene with which they share a similar structural gene organization. There is, therefore, a correlation between LEA gene expression or LEA protein accumulation with stress tolerance in a number of plants. For example, in severely dehydrated wheat seedlings, the accumulation of high levels of group 3 LEA proteins was correlated with tissue dehydration tolerance. Studies on several Indica varieties of rice showed that the levels of group 2 LEA proteins (also known as dehydrins) and group 3 LEA proteins in roots were significantly higher in salt-tolerant varieties compared with sensitive varieties. The barley HVA1 gene was transformed into wheat. Transformed wheat plants showed increased tolerance to water stress.

C. Improved water stress tolerance through increased mannitol levels via the bacterial mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. It is known to produce a plant with a genetic basis for coping with water deficit by introduction of the bacterial mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, mtlD, into tobacco cells via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Root and leaf tissues from transgenic plants regenerated from these transformed tobacco cells contained up to 100 mM mannitol. Control plants contained no detectable mannitol. To determine whether the transgenic tobacco plants exhibited increased tolerance to water deficit, the growth of transgenic plants was compared to that of untransformed control plants in the presence of 250 mM NaCl. After 30 days of exposure to 250 mM NaCl, transgenic plants had decreased weight loss and increased height relative to their untransformed counterparts. The authors concluded that the presence of mannitol in these transformed tobacco plants contributed to water deficit tolerance at the cellular level.

Other genes and transcription factors that affect plant growth and agronomic traits such as yield, flowering, plant growth and/or plant structure, can be introduced or introgressed into plants.

Methods for Wheat Transformation

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available.

A. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation. One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are known.

B. Direct Gene Transfer. Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A generally applicable method of plant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes.

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication of target cells. Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion have been used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine has also been reported. Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues has also been described. Following transformation of wheat target tissues, expression of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods now well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used for producing a transgenic variety. The transgenic variety could then be crossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed) variety, in order to produce a new transgenic variety. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into a particular wheat cultivar using the foregoing transformation techniques could be moved into another cultivar using traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite variety into an elite variety, or from a variety containing a foreign gene in its genome into a variety or varieties which do not contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

Genetic Marker Profile Through SSR and First Generation Progeny

In addition to phenotypic observations, a plant can also be identified by its genotype. The genotype of a plant can be characterized through a genetic marker profile which can identify plants of the same variety or a related variety or be used to determine or validate a pedigree. Genetic marker profiles can be obtained by techniques such as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Particular markers used for these purposes are not limited to any particular set of markers, but are envisioned to include any type of marker and marker profile which provides a means of distinguishing varieties. One method of comparison is to use only homozygous loci for WB-249.

In addition to being used for identification of wheat variety WB-249 and plant parts and plant cells of variety WB-249, the genetic profile may be used to identify a wheat plant produced through the use of WB-249 or to verify a pedigree for progeny plants produced through the use of WB-249. The genetic marker profile is also useful in breeding and developing backcross conversions.

In some embodiments, the present invention comprises a wheat plant characterized by molecular and physiological data obtained from the representative sample of WB-249, deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Provided in further embodiments of the invention is a wheat plant formed by the combination of the WB-249 plant or plant cell with another wheat plant or cell and comprising the homozygous alleles of the variety.

Means of performing genetic marker profiles using SSR polymorphisms are well known in the art. SSRs are genetic markers based on polymorphisms in repeated nucleotide sequences, such as microsatellites. A marker system based on SSRs can be highly informative in linkage analysis relative to other marker systems in that multiple alleles may be present. Another advantage of this type of marker is that, through use of flanking primers, detection of SSRs can be achieved, for example, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thereby eliminating the need for labor-intensive Southern hybridization. PCR detection uses two oligonucleotide primers flanking the polymorphic segment of repetitive DNA. Repeated cycles of heat denaturation of the DNA, followed by annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences at low temperatures, and extension of the annealed primers with DNA polymerase, comprise the major part of the methodology.

Following amplification, markers can be scored by electrophoresis of the amplification products. Scoring of marker genotype is based on the size of the amplified fragment, which may be measured by the number of base pairs of the fragment. While variation in the primer used or in laboratory procedures can affect the reported fragment size, relative values should remain constant regardless of the specific primer or laboratory used. When comparing varieties, all SSR profiles may be performed in the same lab.

The SSR profile of wheat plant WB-249 can be used to identify plants comprising WB-249 as a parent, since such plants will comprise the same homozygous alleles as WB-249. Because the wheat variety is essentially homozygous at all relevant loci, most loci should have only one type of allele present. In contrast, a genetic marker profile of an F₁ progeny should be the sum of those parents, e.g., if one parent was homozygous for allele x at a particular locus, and the other parent homozygous for allele y at that locus, then the F₁ progeny will be xy (heterozygous) at that locus. Subsequent generations of progeny produced by selection and breeding are expected to be of genotype x (homozygous), y (homozygous), or xy (heterozygous) for that locus position. When the F₁ plant is selfed or sibbed for successive filial generations, the locus should be either x or y for that position.

In addition, plants and plant parts substantially benefiting from the use of WB-249 in their development, such as WB-249 comprising a backcross conversion, transgene, or genetic sterility factor, may be identified by having a molecular marker profile with a high percent identity to WB-249. In an embodiment, such a percent identity might be 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% identical to WB-249.

The SSR profile of WB-249 also can be used to identify essentially derived varieties and other progeny varieties developed from the use of WB-249, as well as cells and other plant parts thereof. Progeny plants and plant parts produced using WB-249 may be identified by having a molecular marker profile of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% genetic contribution from WB-249, as measured by either percent identity or percent similarity. Such progeny may be further characterized as being within a pedigree distance of WB-249, such as within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or fewer cross-pollinations to a wheat plant other than WB-249 or a plant that has WB-249 as a progenitor. Unique molecular profiles may be identified with other molecular tools such as SNPs and RFLPs.

While determining the SSR genetic marker profile of the plants described supra, several unique SSR profiles may also be identified which did not appear in either parent of such plant. Such unique SSR profiles may arise during the breeding process from recombination or mutation. A combination of several unique alleles provides a means of identifying a plant variety, an F₁ progeny produced from such variety, and further progeny produced from such variety.

Gene Conversion

When the term “wheat plant” is used in the context of the present invention, this also includes any gene conversions of that variety. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the variety. For example, a variety may be backcrossed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more times to the recurrent parent. The parental wheat plant which contributes the gene for the desired characteristic is termed the “nonrecurrent” or “donor parent”. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental wheat plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol. In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a wheat plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent contributes to a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original variety. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent variety is modified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological, constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross. One of the major purposes is to add commercially desirable, agronomically important traits to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance, it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new variety, but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not be transgenic. Examples of these traits include, but are not limited to, male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide tolerance or resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance or tolerance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through the nucleus.

Introduction of a New Trait or Locus into WB-249

Variety WB-249 represents a new base genetic variety into which a new locus or trait may be introgressed. Direct transformation and backcrossing represent two important methods that can be used to accomplish such an introgression. The term backcross conversion and single locus conversion are used interchangeably to designate the product of a backcrossing program.

Backcross Conversions of WB-249

A backcross conversion of WB-249 occurs when DNA sequences are introduced through backcrossing, with WB-249 utilized as the recurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNA sequences may be introduced through backcrossing techniques. A backcross conversion may produce a plant with a trait or locus conversion in at least two or more backcrosses, including at least 2 crosses, at least 3 crosses, at least 4 crosses, at least 5 crosses, or additional crosses. Molecular marker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce the number of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion. For example, a backcross conversion can be made in as few as two backcrosses.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type of trait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes versus unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, the type of inheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear) and the types of parents included in the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that for single gene traits that are relatively easy to classify, the backcross method is effective and relatively easy to manage. Desired traits that may be transferred through backcross conversion include, but are not limited to, sterility (nuclear and cytoplasmic), fertility restoration, nutritional enhancements, drought tolerance, nitrogen utilization, altered fatty acid profile, low phytate, industrial enhancements, disease resistance or tolerance (bacterial, fungal or viral), insect resistance or tolerance, and herbicide tolerance or resistance. In addition, an introgression site itself, such as an FRT site, Lox site or other site specific integration site, may be inserted by backcrossing and utilized for direct insertion of one or more genes of interest into a specific plant variety. In some embodiments of the invention, the number of loci that may be backcrossed into WB-249 is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more. A single locus may contain several transgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, in the same expression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide tolerance or resistance. The gene for herbicide tolerance or resistance may be used as a selectable marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site specific integration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at the converted loci.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele. Transgenes transferred via backcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and are relatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing the first backcross generation to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successive backcross generations to determine the presence of the locus of interest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although a backcross conversion with a stably introgressed trait may also be maintained by further backcrossing to the recurrent parent with selection for the converted trait.

Along with selection for the trait of interest, progeny are selected for the phenotype of the recurrent parent. The backcross is a form of inbreeding, and the features of the recurrent parent are automatically recovered after successive backcrosses. Some sources suggest from one to four or more backcrosses, but as noted above, the number of backcrosses necessary can be reduced with the use of molecular markers. Other factors, such as a genetically similar donor parent, may also reduce the number of backcrosses necessary. Backcrossing is easiest for simply inherited, dominant and easily recognized traits.

One process for adding or modifying a trait or locus in wheat variety WB-249 comprises crossing WB-249 plants grown from WB-249 seed with plants of another wheat variety that comprise the desired trait or locus, selecting F₁ progeny plants that comprise the desired trait or locus to produce selected F₁ progeny plants, crossing the selected progeny plants with the WB-249 plants to produce backcross progeny plants, selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait or locus and the morphological characteristics of wheat variety WB-249 to produce selected backcross progeny plants, and backcrossing to WB-249 three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise said trait or locus. The modified WB-249 may be further characterized as having essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat variety WB-249 listed in Table 1, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions and/or may be characterized by percent similarity or identity to WB-249 as determined by SSR markers. The above method may be utilized with fewer backcrosses in appropriate situations, such as when the donor parent is highly related or markers are used in the selection step. Desired nucleic acids that may be used include those nucleic acids known in the art, some of which are listed herein, that will affect traits through nucleic acid expression or inhibition. Desired loci include the introgression of FRT, Lox and other sites for site specific integration, which may also affect a desired trait if a functional nucleic acid is inserted at the integration site.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes described herein may be used to produce first generation progeny wheat seed by adding a step at the end of the process that comprises crossing WB-249 with the introgressed trait or locus with a different wheat plant and harvesting the resultant first generation progeny wheat seed.

A further embodiment of the invention is a backcross conversion of wheat variety WB-249. A backcross conversion occurs when DNA sequences are introduced through traditional (non-transformation) breeding techniques, such as backcrossing. DNA sequences, whether naturally occurring or transgenes, may be introduced using these traditional breeding techniques. Desired traits transferred through this process include, but are not limited to nutritional enhancements, industrial enhancements, disease resistance or tolerance, insect resistance or tolerance, herbicide tolerance or resistance, agronomic enhancements, grain quality enhancement, waxy starch, breeding enhancements, seed production enhancements, and male sterility. Descriptions of some of the cytoplasmic male sterility genes, nuclear male sterility genes, chemical hybridizing agents, male fertility restoration genes, and methods of using the aforementioned are known. Examples of genes for other traits include: Leaf rust resistance genes (Lr series such as Lr1, Lr10, Lr21, Lr22, Lr22a, Lr32, Lr37, Lr41, Lr42, and Lr43), Fusarium head blight-resistance genes (QFhs.ndsu-3B and QFhs.ndsu-2A), powdery mildew resistance genes (Pm21), common bunt resistance genes (Bt-10), and wheat streak mosaic virus resistance gene (Wsm1), Russian wheat aphid resistance genes (Dn series such as Dn1, Dn2, Dn4, Dn5), Black stem rust resistance genes (Sr38), Yellow rust resistance genes (Yr series such as Yr1, YrSD, Yrsu, Yr17, Yr15, YrH52), Aluminum tolerance genes (Alt(BH)), dwarf genes (Rht), vernalization genes (Vrn), Hessian fly resistance genes (H9, H10, H21, H29), grain color genes (R/r), glyphosate resistance genes (EPSPS), glufosinate genes (bar, pat) and water stress tolerance genes (Hva1, mtlD). The trait of interest is transferred from the donor parent to the recurrent parent, which in this case, is the wheat plant disclosed herein, WB-249. Single gene traits may result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is done by direct selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele. Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing the first backcross to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successive backcross generations to determine the presence of the gene of interest.

Using WB-249 to Develop Other Wheat Varieties

Wheat varieties such as WB-249 are typically developed for use in seed and grain production. However, wheat varieties such as WB-249 also provide a source of breeding material that may be used to develop new wheat varieties. Plant breeding techniques known in the art and used in a wheat plant breeding program include, but are not limited to, recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection, mass selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, open pollination breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, making double haploids, and transformation. Often, combinations of these techniques are used. The development of wheat varieties in a plant breeding program requires, in general, the development and evaluation of homozygous varieties. There are many analytical methods available to evaluate a new variety. The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation of phenotypic traits but genotypic analysis may also be used.

Additional Breeding Methods

In an embodiment, this invention is directed to methods for producing a wheat plant by crossing a first parent wheat plant with a second parent wheat plant wherein either the first or second parent wheat plant is variety WB-249. The other parent may be any other wheat plant, such as a wheat plant that is part of a synthetic or natural population. Any such methods using wheat variety WB-249 are part of this invention: selfing, sibbing, backcrosses, mass selection, pedigree breeding, bulk selection, hybrid production, and crosses to populations. These methods are well known in the art and some of the more commonly used breeding methods are described below.

The following describes breeding methods that may be used with wheat cultivar WB-249 in the development of further wheat plants. One such embodiment is a method for developing a cultivar WB-249 progeny wheat plant in a wheat plant breeding program comprising: obtaining the wheat plant, or a part thereof, of cultivar WB-249 utilizing said plant or plant part as a source of breeding material and selecting a wheat cultivar WB-249 progeny plant with molecular markers in common with cultivar WB-249 and/or with morphological and/or physiological characteristics selected from the characteristics listed in Tables 1 or 2. Breeding steps that may be used in the wheat plant breeding program include pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding, and recurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such as RFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (for example SSR markers) and the making of double haploids may be utilized.

Another method involves producing a population of wheat cultivar WB-249 progeny wheat plants, comprising crossing cultivar WB-249 with another wheat plant, thereby producing a population of wheat plants, which, on average, derive 50% of their alleles from wheat cultivar WB-249. A plant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbed with a wheat cultivar resulting from these successive filial generations. One embodiment of this invention is the wheat cultivar produced by this method and that has obtained at least 50% of its alleles from wheat cultivar WB-249.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how to evaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is no significant difference between the two traits expressed by those varieties. Thus the invention includes wheat cultivar WB-249 progeny wheat plants comprising a combination of at least two cultivar WB-249 traits selected from the group consisting of those listed in Tables 1 and 2, so that said progeny wheat plant is not significantly different for said traits than wheat cultivar WB-249. Using techniques described herein, molecular markers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a wheat cultivar WB-249 progeny plant. Mean trait values may be used to determine whether trait differences are significant, and the traits may be measured on plants grown under the same environmental conditions. Once such a variety is developed its value is substantial, as it is important to advance the germplasm base as a whole in order to maintain or improve traits such as yield, disease resistance or tolerance, pest resistance or tolerance, and plant performance in extreme environmental conditions.

Progeny of wheat cultivar WB-249 may also be characterized through their filial relationship with wheat cultivar WB-249, as for example, being within a certain number of breeding crosses of wheat cultivar WB-249. A breeding cross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into the progeny, and is distinguished from a cross, such as a self or a sib cross, made to select among existing genetic alleles. The lower the number of breeding crosses in the pedigree, the closer the relationship between wheat cultivar WB-249 and its progeny. For example, progeny produced by the methods described herein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 breeding crosses of wheat cultivar WB-249.

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such as WB-249 and another wheat variety having one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking or which complements WB-249. If the two original parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive filial generations. In the succeeding filial generations the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous varieties as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding, five or more successive filial generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F₁ to F₂; F₂ to F₃; F₃ to F₄; F₄ to F₅, etc. After a sufficient amount of inbreeding, successive filial generations will serve to increase seed of the developed variety. In an embodiment, the developed variety comprises homozygous alleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

In addition to being used to create a backcross conversion, backcrossing can also be used in combination with pedigree breeding. As discussed previously, backcrossing can be used to transfer one or more specifically desirable traits from one variety, the donor parent, to a developed variety called the recurrent parent, which has overall good agronomic characteristics yet lacks that desirable trait or traits. However, the same procedure can be used to move the progeny toward the genotype of the recurrent parent but at the same time retain many components of the non-recurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at an early stage and proceeding with selfing and selection. For example, a wheat variety may be crossed with another variety to produce a first generation progeny plant. The first generation progeny plant may then be backcrossed to one of its parent varieties to create a BC1 or BC2. Progeny are selfed and selected so that the newly developed variety has many of the attributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of the desired attributes of the non-recurrent parent. This approach leverages the value and strengths of the recurrent parent for use in new wheat varieties.

Therefore, an embodiment of this invention is a method of making a backcross conversion of wheat variety WB-249 comprising the steps of crossing a plant of wheat variety WB-249 with a donor plant comprising a desired trait, selecting an F₁ progeny plant comprising the desired trait, and backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny plant to a plant of wheat variety WB-249. This method may further comprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of wheat variety WB-249 and using the molecular marker profile to select for a progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of WB-249. In one embodiment, the desired trait is a mutant gene or transgene present in the donor parent.

Recurrent Selection and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program to improve a population of plants. WB-249 is suitable for use in a recurrent selection program. The method entails individual plants cross pollinating with each other to form progeny. The progeny are grown and the superior progeny selected by any number of selection methods, which include individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sib progeny and selfed progeny. The selected progeny are cross pollinated with each other to form progeny for another population. This population is planted and again superior plants are selected to cross pollinate with each other. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and therefore can be repeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrent selection is to improve the traits of a population. The improved population can then be used as a source of breeding material to obtain new varieties for commercial or breeding use, including the production of a synthetic cultivar. A synthetic cultivar is the resultant progeny formed by the intercrossing of several selected varieties.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction with molecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection, seeds from individuals are selected based on phenotype or genotype. These selected seeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation. Bulk selection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot, allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk and then using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the next generation. Also, instead of self pollination, directed pollination could be used as part of the breeding program.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits into wheat variety WB-249. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificially induced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by many different means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions, radiation; such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g. cobalt 60 or cesium 137), neutrons, (product of nuclear fission by uranium 235 in an atomic reactor), Beta radiation (emitted from radioisotopes such as phosphorus 32 or carbon 14), or ultraviolet radiation (optionally from 2500 to 2900 nm), or chemical mutagens (such as base analogues (5-bromo-uracil), related compounds (8-ethoxy caffeine), antibiotics (streptonigrin), alkylating agents (sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid, or acridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditional breeding techniques. In addition, mutations created in other wheat plants may be used to produce a backcross conversion of wheat cultivar WB-249 that comprises such mutation. Further embodiments of the invention are the treatment of WB-249 with a mutagen and the plant produced by mutagenesis of WB-249.

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Molecular markers, which includes markers identified through the use of techniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), may be used in plant breeding methods utilizing wheat cultivar WB-249. Isozyme Electrophoresis and RFLPs have been widely used to determine genetic composition.

SSR technology is currently the most efficient and practical marker technology; more marker loci can be routinely used and more alleles per marker locus can be found using SSRs in comparison to RFLPs. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) may also be used to identify the unique genetic composition of the invention and progeny varieties retaining that unique genetic composition. Various molecular marker techniques may be used in combination to enhance overall resolution. Wheat DNA molecular marker linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widely implemented in genetic studies.

One use of molecular markers is QTL mapping. QTL mapping is the use of markers which are known to be closely linked to alleles that have measurable effects on a quantitative trait. Selection in the breeding process is based upon the accumulation of markers linked to the positive effecting alleles and/or the elimination of the markers linked to the negative effecting alleles from the plant's genome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for the selection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked to alleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles of interest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles of interest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also be used to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against the genome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amount of genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. It can also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrent parent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers in the selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection. Molecular markers may also be used to identify and exclude certain sources of germplasm as parental varieties or ancestors of a plant by providing a means of tracking genetic profiles through crosses.

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the development of plants with a homozygous phenotype in the breeding program. For example, a wheat plant for which wheat cultivar WB-249 is a parent can be used to produce double haploid plants. Double haploids are produced by the doubling of a set of chromosomes (1 N) from a heterozygous plant to produce a completely homozygous individual. This can be advantageous because the process omits the generations of selfing needed to obtain a homozygous plant from a heterozygous source.

Haploid induction systems have been developed for various plants to produce haploid tissues, plants and seeds. The haploid induction system can produce haploid plants from any genotype by crossing a selected line (as female) with an inducer line. Such inducer lines for maize include Stock 6. Methods for obtaining haploid plants have also been disclosed in the art.

Thus, an embodiment of this invention is a process for making a substantially homozygous WB-249 progeny plant by producing or obtaining a seed from the cross of WB-249 and another wheat plant and applying double haploid methods to the F₁ seed or F₁ plant or to any successive filial generation. Based on studies in maize and currently being conducted in wheat, such methods would decrease the number of generations required to produce a variety with similar genetics or characteristics to WB-249.

In particular, a process of making seed retaining the molecular marker profile of wheat variety WB-249 is contemplated, such process comprising obtaining or producing F₁ seed for which wheat variety WB-249 is a parent, inducing doubled haploids to create progeny without the occurrence of meiotic segregation, obtaining the molecular marker profile of wheat variety WB-249, and selecting progeny that retain the molecular marker profile of WB-249. Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops are known.

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture and regeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of wheat and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce wheat plants having essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar WB-249. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produce regenerated plants.

In Table 2, selected yield, quality and agronomic characteristics of wheat cultivar WB-249 are compared to three commercial check varieties. Column 1 shows the variety, column 2 shows the yield as a percent of the average of the three check varieties, column 3 shows the test weight of harvested grain, column 4 shows the Julian flowering date when 50% of the variety flowers, column 5 shows the plant height in centimeters, column 6 shows the protein level of the harvest grain as a percent (as-is basis) of total grain weight, column 7 shows the Falling Number in seconds, and column 8 shows the Milling Yield in % of total grain weight.

TABLE 2 Some Yield and Quality Characteristics of Variety “WB-249” Compared to “Branson”, “P25R47” and “P25R56” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Test Flowering Plant Falling Milling Yield Weight Date Height Protein Number Yield Unit of Measure % of Av lbs/bu Julian cm % as-is seconds % Branson 98.9 56.2 132.9 92.4 9.58 392 72.8 P25R47 104.2 55.4 136.8 90.6 8.98 323 74.0 P25R56 96.9 55.3 136.9 91.4 Not Not Not Available Available Available Average of 100 55.6 135.5 91.5 9.28 357.5 73.4 Checks WB-249 99.0 55.8 138.2 99.9 10.2 384 76.4 No. of 145 127 9 9 1 1 1 Replications Definitions: Milling Yield. Milling yield is the percent of flour obtained from a given unit of whole wheat kernels. Higher milling yield represents a better economic return for the miller. Falling Number. Falling Number is a test which measures the alpha-amylase enzyme activity in grains and flour to detect sprout damage, optimize flour enzyme activity and guarantee soundness of traded grain. The Falling number instrument measures the number of seconds a stirrer falls a standard distance in a suspension of ground wheat in water. Values greater than 350 seconds are desirable.

As shown in Table 2, the wheat cultivar of the present invention, WB-249, had a yield that was in between the check varieties, a test weight and protein level that was greater than the average of the check varieties, a plant height that was taller than the average of the check varieties, greater number of days to flowering than check varieties, and a milling yield that was greater than the average of the checks.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the Monsanto Technology, LLC proprietary common wheat variety WB-249 disclosed above and recited in the appended claims has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110. The date of deposit was Jun. 21, 2011. The deposit of 2,500 seeds was taken from the same deposit maintained by Monsanto Technology, LLC since prior to the filing date of this application. All restrictions upon the deposit have been irrevocably removed, and the deposit is intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. 1.801-1.809. The ATCC accession number is PTA-11952. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced as necessary during that period.

All references cited in this specification, including without limitation, all papers, publications, patents, patent applications, presentations, texts, reports, manuscripts, brochures, books, internet postings, journal articles, and/or periodicals are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in their entireties. The discussion of the references herein is intended merely to summarize the assertions made by their authors and no admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited references.

These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of wheat cultivar WB-249, a representative sample of seed of which was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11952.
 2. A wheat plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. A tissue culture produced from protoplasts or cells from the plant of claim
 2. 4. The tissue culture of claim 3, wherein said cells or protoplasts are produced from a plant part selected from the group consisting of head, awn, leaf, pollen, ovule, embryo, cotyledon, hypocotyl, meristematic cell, root, root tip, pistil, anther, floret, seed, pericarp, spike, stem, and callus.
 5. A wheat plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 3. 6. A composition comprising a seed or plant part of wheat cultivar WB-249, and a cultivation medium, wherein a representative sample of seed of wheat cultivar WB-249 has been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11952.
 7. The seed or plant part of claim 6, wherein the cultivation medium is soil or a synthetic medium.
 8. A wheat seed produced by crossing two wheat plants and harvesting the resultant wheat seed, wherein at least one of the two wheat plants is the wheat plant of claim
 2. 9. A wheat plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing said seed of claim
 8. 10. An herbicide tolerant wheat plant produced by introducing a gene conferring herbicide tolerance into the plant of claim 2, wherein the gene confers tolerance to a herbicide selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phenoxy proprionic acid, L-phosphinothricin, cyclohexone, cyclohexanedione, triazine, and benzonitrile.
 11. A pest or insect resistant wheat plant produced by introducing a gene conferring pest or insect resistance into the wheat plant of claim
 2. 12. The wheat plant of claim 11, wherein the gene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxin.
 13. A disease resistant wheat plant produced by introducing a gene conferring disease resistance into the wheat plant of claim
 2. 14. A wheat plant having modified fatty acid metabolism or modified carbohydrate metabolism produced by introducing a gene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of glutenins, gliadins, phytase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, α-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme or encoding an antisense of stearyl-ACP desaturase into the wheat plant of claim
 2. 15. A method of introducing a desired trait into wheat cultivar WB-249, wherein the method comprises: (a) crossing a WB-249 plant, wherein a representative sample of seed is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11952, with a plant of another wheat cultivar that comprises a desired trait to produce progeny plants wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism, modified phytic acid metabolism, modified waxy starch content, modified protein content, increased tolerance to water stress and resistance to bacterial disease, fungal disease or viral disease; (b) selecting one or more progeny plants that have the desired trait to produce selected progeny plants; (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with the WB-249 plant to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait and essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar WB-249 listed in Table 1; and (e) repeating the crossing the selected progeny step and selecting for backcross progeny step two or more times in succession to produce selected third or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar WB-249 listed in Table
 1. 16. A wheat plant produced by the method of claim 15, wherein the plant has the desired trait.
 17. The wheat plant of claim 16, wherein the desired trait is herbicide tolerance and the tolerance is conferred to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of imidazolinone, dicamba, cyclohexanedione, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, phenoxy proprionic acid, L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.
 18. The wheat plant of claim 16, wherein the desired trait is insect resistance and the insect resistance is conferred by a gene encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 19. The wheat plant of claim 16, wherein the desired trait is modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism or modified protein metabolism, and said desired trait is conferred by a gene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of glutenins, gliadins, phytase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, α-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme or encoding an antisense of stearyl-ACP desaturase.
 20. The wheat plant of claim 16, wherein the desired trait is male sterility and the trait is conferred by a gene that confers male sterility.
 21. A product comprising the wheat plant or part thereof of claim 2, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of grain, flour, bread, cookies, cakes, crackers, noodles, pastries, baked goods, cereals, pasta, beverages, livestock feed, straw, construction materials, and laundry starches. 